Two Held After Children Killed In House Fire

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder by police investigating a house fire in which a woman and two children died.

A 20-year-old woman, a boy aged four and a two-year-old girl were pronounced dead by firefighters after the blaze broke out at a property in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn, on Friday night, a North Wales Police spokeswoman said.

Her 23-year-old partner and her 15-month-old son were taken to hospital by ambulance in a critical condition, she added.

Police confirmed the two people in custody are a 45-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, who live in a ground floor flat underneath the victims.

Neighbour Adele Gordon described the chaotic moments as the fire took hold: "There were people everywhere. This man came running up the street shouting 'my kids are in there, my kids are in there'.

Fire crews recovered five people from inside the property

"People started smashing the windows but the smoke was mad, I've never seen smoke like it. It was thick black smoke bellowing out of the house."

Another neighbour, Mike Foster said: "I can't believe it. I'm just in shock. I didn't even know them but I'm just so upset."

A joint investigation is being carried out by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.

A Welsh Ambulance Services spokeswoman said the man and baby were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

The man was later transferred to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, while the baby was moved to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Both were said to be in a serious condition.

Detective Superintendent John Chapman said: "We would appeal for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Maes y Groes area of Prestatyn yesterday evening to get in contact as soon as possible by calling us on 101.

"We are deploying Family Liaison Officers to work closely with the next of kin at this difficult time.

"There is a team of dedicated officers working on specific lines of enquiry in relation to this incident."

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Lebanon: Protests After Beirut Bomb Blast

Protesters in Lebanon have burnt tyres and set up roadblocks amid growing anger over a car bomb that killed eight people, including one of the country's top security officials.

There are fears that the devastating attack threatens to bring Syria's civil war to Lebanon.

Lebanese troops stood guard at road junctions and official buildings in the capital, Beirut, as the Lebanese cabinet held an emergency meeting to decide on what, if any, action to take.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati later said the blast was linked to the civil war in neighbouring Syria and revealed that he had agreed to stay on as premier at President Michel Sleiman's request because of "national interest".

Among the victims of the Beirut blast was Brigadier General Wissam al Hassan, head of a Lebanese intelligence department and an opponent of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

Politics in Lebanon and Syria are closely connected

Brig-Gen al Hassan, 47, headed an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of former information minister Michel Samaha, one of Mr Assad's most loyal allies in Lebanon.

Mr Samaha, who is in custody, is accused of plotting a campaign of bombings and assassinations to spread sectarian violence in Lebanon at Syria's behest.

Also indicted in the August sweep was Syrian Brigadier General Ali Mamlouk, one of Mr Assad's highest aides.

Dozens were left wounded in the blast in Beirut's mainly Christian Achrafieh neighbourhood.

Lebanon's fractious politics are closely entwined with Syria's.

The countries share political and sectarian ties and rivalries, often causing events on one side of the border to have a "knock on" effect on the other.

Lebanon's opposition is an anti-Syrian bloc, while the prime minister and much of the government are pro-Syrian.

The civil war in Syria has laid bare Lebanon's sectarian tensions as well.

Many of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims have backed Syria's mainly Sunni rebels, while Shi'ite Muslims have tended to back Mr Assad.

Brig-Gen al Hassan was a Sunni whose stances were widely seen to oppose Syria and Shi'ite Hezbollah, the country's most powerful ally in Lebanon.

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Cardiff Hit-And-Runs: Police Hunt Mystery Car

Detectives investigating a hit-and-run rampage in which a mother of a disabled child was killed are appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

Karina Menzies, 32, was killed yesterday and 13 people were injured when a driver brought terror to roads in Cardiff.

As it emerged today that Ms Menzies' child is on a "dream holiday" in Florida and does not know of the tragedy, police revealed new details of the investigation.

Police are continuing to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of her murder as well as investigating reports that he deliberately knocked people down in the Welsh capital with a white Iveco van.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley confirmed reports that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a weapon.

Flowers outside the fire station in Ely where Karina Menzies was killed

The officer said: "We are aware the suspect assaulted people outside his vehicle," and he added police were "looking to identify and recover" the weapon.

He said no firearm was involved and there was no suggestion anyone had been stabbed.

Mr Hurley urged witnesses to get in touch and asked for information about a black Renault Clio seen driving on the wrong side of the road of Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West, where one crash happened.

The horrific events began when police received calls about an incident in Crossways Road in Ely at 3.30pm.

This was soon followed by other reports of hit-and-run collisions in several locations in the west of the city, including Grand Avenue, Cowbridge Road West and the Leckwith Retail Park.

The white van pictured after being stopped by police

There was no full registration details for the Clio but officers said it carried an 05 plate.

Fourteen people were injured in the crashes, nine remain in hospital. Five are children and two adults remain in a critical condition.

Seventy officers are working on the investigation.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene where Ms Menzies was killed.

Among those paying their respects was local Labour MP Kevin Brennan.

Police were called to five locations in Cardiff

He said: "Karina was a well-liked mother who had three children. One of her children is disabled and is currently on a dream holiday in Florida."

Ely sub-postmaster Shady Taha, 29, had just served two girls aged about 10 and a woman in her mid-20s moments before one of the hit-and-runs in Grand Avenue, immediately outside a row of shops.

He said: "All of a sudden I heard a bang. I looked out and across the road one girl was on the floor and the other girl was screaming. I heard a van speed off but I did not see it."

Lynda Paterson, who lives in Cowbridge Road West, described the scene outside her house as chaotic.

"I was going to pick my children up from school and I could see there were police and someone was lying on the floor, on the pavement."

Police examine the scene of one of the crashes

Other eyewitnesses said pedestrians were deliberately targeted by someone driving a white van.

The crime scenes included Ely fire station, an area near the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough on the outskirts of Cardiff, where the suspect was arrested, and Leckwith Retail Park - next to the Cardiff City Stadium.

It is believed the suspect used a crook lock to assault witnesses.

There were also unconfirmed reports that officers were investigating whether the attacker was involved in a domestic incident before the rampage.

A key part of the inquiry is focused on establishing who owns the white van.

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Israeli Navy Boards Gaza-Bound Boat

The Israeli military says its navy boarded a boat carrying pro-Palestinian MPs and activists that was trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

The boarding happened after the passengers' "unwillingness to co-operate" and they "ignored calls to change course", the military added.

Soldiers went on to the Finnish-flagged Estelle in international waters and it was being led to the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, it continued.

The military said the troops boarded the boat peacefully, and there was no harm to the passengers who were offered food and drinks.

When the boat arrives at the Ashdod port, the passengers will be transferred to the custody of the police and immigration authorities.

Victoria Strand, a spokeswoman for Ship to Gaza in Sweden, which sent the Estelle, said armed, masked soldiers boarded the boat and cut their communications 30 miles from Gaza.

She said activists on board told her six naval boats surrounded their vessel. "This is a demonstration of ruthlessness," Ms Strand said.

The Estelle is the latest in a series of activist-manned boats challenging Israel's blockade on Gaza, which was imposed after the militant group Hamas seized power of the territory in 2007.

The boat left Naples, Italy, on October 7 with about 20 people from eight countries, carrying items like cement, basketballs and musical instruments.

An Israeli military statement said: "The boarding was carried out in accordance with international law, with directives of the Israeli government and after all attempts to prevent the vessel from reaching the Gaza Strip were made, both via direct contact and through diplomatic channels, but to no avail.

"The boarding was carried out only after numerous calls to the passengers onboard; as a result of their unwillingness to co-operate and after ignoring calls to change course, the decision was made to board the vessel and lead it to the port of Ashdod."

In 2010, an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed nine Turkish activists on board.

The incident sparked international condemnation that forced Israel to ease much of its blockade, although it maintains restrictions on key exports and imports of raw materials.

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Iraq Soldiers' Families Win Damages Fight

Relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq have won the latest round in a fight for compensation from the Government.

The Court of Appeal said families could pursue damages claims on the grounds of negligence.

Relatives say the Ministry of Defence failed to provide armoured vehicles or equipment which could have saved lives and should pay compensation.

MoD bosses say decisions about battlefield equipment are for politicians and military commanders.

A lawyer representing the families described the ruling as "an important victory".

Private Phillip Hewett, 21, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, died in July 2005 after a Snatch Land Rover was blown up.

His mother, Susan Smith, told Sky News outside the court earlier: "Their argument's always been that they didn't really need to protect them because nobody could do anything about it.

"It's just been plodding on trying to get this where they recognise that soldiers have the right to life and the right to be safe in their jobs to the best of their ability.

"I think the MoD have known all along that it wasn't suitable but they just thought people would just leave it."

Legal action was started as a result of the deaths of a number of British soldiers following the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, judges heard.

Corporal Stephen Allbutt, 35, of Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was killed in a "friendly fire" incident in March 2003.

He died after a Challenger 2 tank was hit by another Challenger 2 tank.

Soldiers Dan Twiddy, of Stamford, Lincolnshire, and Andy Julien, of Bolton, Greater Manchester, were badly hurt in the incident.

Similar explosions claimed the lives of Private Lee Ellis, 23, of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, in February 2006, and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath, 22, of Romford, Essex, in August 2007.

The Court of Appeal announcement followed a ruling in June 2011 by a High Court judge, who said relatives could pursue claims on negligence grounds – but not under human rights legislation.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) appealed against Mr Justice Owen's ruling on negligence claims - while the relatives challenged his findings on the human rights issue.

Shubhaa Srinivasan, a partner with law firm Leigh Day & Co, which is representing the family of Cpl Allbutt and the surviving servicemen, said: "We await the verdict, having fought for many years to get these claims to court.

"We maintain that the MoD's position has been morally and legally indefensible, as they owe a duty of care to those who fight on behalf of this country.

"British troops should at the very least have adequate equipment and training, ranging from the very basic such as GPS devices, to sophisticated satellite tracker systems, which the Americans had available to them."

The MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts and concerns remain with those that were injured and the families of those that sadly lost their lives.

"We are considering the judgment by the Court of Appeal and as this is likely to be subject to further legal action it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."

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Beirut Car Bomb: 'Eight Killed' In Explosion

At least eight people have reportedly been killed and 78 wounded by a car bomb in Lebanese capital Beirut.

The rising death toll - following the city's first such attack since 2008 - was reported by Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.

More follows...

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Taxi Driver Pleads Guilty To Clubber Murder

A taxi driver admitted has admitted killing nightclubber Sian O'Callaghan.

Father-of-three Christopher Halliwell, 48, from Swindon, pleaded guilty to the charge during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

Miss O'Callaghan, 22, disappeared after leaving Swindon's Suju nightclub in the early hours of March 19 last year.

Hundreds of volunteers turned out at Savernake Forest to help in the search for her but she was found dead in Uffington, Oxfordshire, on March 24.

Miss O'Callaghan left the nightclub at 2.53am to walk the short distance to the home she shared with boyfriend Kevin Reape.

Shortly after she walked past the Goddard Arms on the High Street in the Old Town area, she got into Halliwell's taxi.

He had signed off from work earlier that night but, instead of going home, he cruised the streets of Swindon in his green Toyota Avensis taxi looking for a victim.

The court heard that he took Miss O'Callaghan, an office worker, to Savernake Forest where he murdered her.

In the 24 hours after Miss O'Callaghan was abducted, Halliwell made four visits to the area where her body had been hidden.

Prosecutor Ian Lawrie QC told the court: "He had carried out a reconnaissance for a possible deposition site for Sian O'Callaghan."

By the early hours of March 21, Halliwell had moved Miss O'Callaghan's body from Savernake Forest to the spot where it was later found.

He then attempted to cover his tracks by cleaning his car and burning his seat covers.

Within three days Halliwell was the prime suspect for Miss O'Callaghan's kidnap.

He was detained at an Asda Walmart car park in Swindon where experienced detectives carried out an "urgent interview".

Mr Lawrie told the court: "He said he didn't know the whereabouts of Sian and requested to speak to a solicitor."

Miss O'Callaghan's body was discovered lying face down and naked from her waist to her ankles.

A post-mortem found she had died from the combined effects of two stab wounds to the head and neck, as well as compression to the neck.

There was further evidence of blunt trauma to the back of the head and areas of external deep bruising to her face.

Forensic examinations found Miss O'Callaghan's blood in the rear of Halliwell's car, Police also used CCTV to establish he was in the Old Town area when she vanished.

The court heard extracts of statements made by Miss O'Callaghan's loved ones.

Mr Reape said: "My heart was ripped out, my life has been destroyed. Sian was a beautiful, happy-go-lucky person who could cheer up the most miserable of people."

Her mother, Elaine O'Callaghan, said: "There is never total closure, just accepting my life has changed forever."

Mick O'Callaghan, her father, said: "My eldest daughter was the most lovely and fantastic daughter."

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Torched Car Did Belong To Missing Vet

Missing Irish Woman's Last Sighting

Updated: 6:16pm UK, Thursday 18 October 2012

CCTV footage of the last known sighting of a missing Irish woman feared to have been murdered in Wales has been released by police.

Catherine Gowing, 37, was captured on camera in an Asda store in Queensferry, Flintshire, at 8:06pm last Friday.

She had left the veterinary surgery in Mold where she worked at around 7pm wearing blue jeans, a light brown zip-up fleece top with white sleeves and white side panels and plain flat black shoes.

Ms Gowing was also carrying a bright brown saddle bag over her shoulder and was carrying an Asda plastic bag and a pizza-type box.

Her sister, Emma Gowing, appealed for help in finding her "beautiful sister", who is originally from Kinnity, Co Offaly.

In a statement, she said: "We are all so deeply shocked by the events that have unfolded in the last four days.

"Catherine's disappearance has left us all bereft. We are lost without her.

"Catherine is a kind sensitive beautiful person. She is passionate about animals and utterly devoted to her family. She is my best friend and the light of my life and my parents' lives."

Detective Superintendent John Hanson, of North Wales Police, said: "Co-ordinated searches continue at various locations in an attempt to find Catherine, her vehicle and personal items that appear to be missing from her home.

"Our priority is to trace Catherine and we would urge anyone who has seen her or her Renault Clio, bearing the Irish registration plates 00D 99970, to contact the North Wales Police incident room on 101.

"This is totally out of character for Catherine and the public's assistance in the search cannot be emphasised enough."

Ms Gowing is about 5ft 10in and of slim, athletic build. She speaks with an Irish accent.

Police believe that after finishing work, she drove home to Cae Isa, New Brighton, in her work car - a Vauxhall Corsa which has been recovered.

A 46-year-old man from Gwynedd is being held in connection with Ms Gowing's disappearance.

He appeared before Prestatyn magistrates on Thursday morning and a warrant for further detention was granted to North Wales Police, allowing him to be questioned until Friday evening.

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Missing Ben Needham: New Search In Greece

British police investigating the disappearance of Ben Needham are to search a mound of earth close to where he went missing in Greece 21 years ago.

Ben vanished on the island of Kos in July 1991 when he was 21 months old, after his mother and grandparents moved there from Sheffield.

How Ben might look in his early twenties

Despite a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to him, no trace of the youngster has been found.

A team of experts will begin examining the grounds of the farmhouse from which Ben disappeared tomorrow, before deciding whether any areas should be dug up.

The search, which is expected to last up to 10 days, will centre on a large mound near the house which is now grassed over.

One theory is that Ben could have been buried beneath building material which was dumped there at the time he went missing.

His mother, Kerry Needham, 41, told the Daily Mirror: "This is an elimination process and that's how I'm dealing with it.

"It's one of the most important things to happen in 21 years."

Mrs Needham has previously said she believes the mound was already there when Ben went missing.

Angela Smith, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Hopefully they won't find Ben in that rubble and it closes down another line of inquiry and narrows down the possibilities.

"I know that she [Mrs Needham] will be very keen for this work to be undertaken and rock solid confident, I'm sure, that they won't find Ben there."

South Yorkshire Police, which is leading the operation, said the search, which follows a request from Greek police for extra support, would also involve a forensic archaeologist and search dogs.

A spokesman for the force said: "During the past 18 months, South Yorkshire Police has reviewed all material held by the Greek police in relation to Ben's disappearance in order to support the Greek enquiry.

"We have also obtained Ben's DNA from Sheffield Children's Hospital."

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'Lonely' Eton Boys Make Gangnam Style Video

A group of pupils from Eton College have posted a Gangnam Style-inspired video on YouTube, where the teenagers talk about their frustrations and insecurities.

Gangnam Style was a track released by South Korean rapper Psy in July. It is known for its catchy dance beats and has become an internet sensation, watched by hundreds of millions of people.

The schoolboys will be hoping their song, Eton Style, goes some way towards repeating the success of Psy.

Their lyrics include: "Awkward, frustrated, lonely, and insecure. We don't like conflict with other people.

"Coz if you push us then we'll just break down and cry."

They added: "We're not too social, can't talk to women, although we try, we're just too shy."

The video features some of the local landmarks including Windsor Great Park, Eton Bridge and Windsor's Long Walk.

The fees for the world-famous Berkshire school are among the highest in the country, and Princes William and Harry as well as Prime Minister David Cameron are among its former pupils.

A couple of weeks ago, Psy became the first South Korean artist to make it to number one in the UK singles chart with Gangnam Style.

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Greek Police Clash With Austerity Protesters

Violence has broken out in the Greek capital Athens, where protesters have clashed with police during an anti-austerity demonstration.

Campaigners threw petrol bombs and rocks at police officers, who responded by firing tear gas to break up groups of troublemakers.

It comes on the day European leaders meet to discuss the future of the single currency.

Millions of Greeks have joined a general strike in a bid to convince politicians to let up on years of crippling austerity.

The 24-hour walkout, organised by the country's two biggest labour unions, is the 20th work stoppage since a devastating debt crisis erupted in the country late 2009.

The financial crisis has since spread to other troubled economies sharing Europe's single currency.

A protest at the Greek finance ministry on Wednesday

The latest action targets a fresh batch of brutal budget cuts which Athens must take to unlock some 31 billion euros in bailout loans it needs to keep the country paying pension, state salaries and running costs.

From taxi drivers to doctors and diplomats, the strike is expected to paralyse an already suffocating economy.

Ships will remain docked throughout the day, hospitals plan to operate on skeleton staff, and dozens of domestic and international flights face cancellation as air traffic controllers agreed to join the protest.

Aircraft will be grounded - and the country isolated from the rest of the world - for three hours.

Most business and public sector activity is expected to come to a screeching halt and government offices will remain shut.

The focus will be in the capital where organisers have called on protesters to rally outside parliament, a venue of frequent, at times, violent, showdowns between demonstrators and police.

Fearing potential violence, authorities have ordered some 4,000 police to the streets to mind demonstrations planned in the capital.

Steel fences and water cannon have been propped outside parliament to shield the sprawling building.

"Just once, the government should reject [international] lenders' absurd demands," said Yannis Panagopoulos, head of the GSEE private sector union.

The Greek parliament has been a frequent venue for protests

"Agreeing to catastrophic measures means driving society to despair and the consequences as well as the protests will be indefinite."

Opinion polls show 8 in 10 Greeks increasingly pessimistic, believing the country was heading down a wrong path of austerity.

Still, with the country running low on cash, the prime minister has said Greece has enough money through November.

But Athens has little leverage against lenders pushing for it to adopt 13.5 billion euro in added austerity.

Earlier this week, demands for drastic labour overhauls, including cuts in wages and severance fees, kicked up a political storm. The government's junior coalition partner threatened to walk out of government if the measures were adopted.

Under the current agreement, Greece has to adopt the cuts through 2014; to ease the pain, however, the government, wants an extra two years, until 2016.

Entangled in its worst economic crisis since World War II, Greece has seen the recession leave a record 1.3 million people, or 25.1%, jobless.

And so unions have vowed to wage rolling strikes to pressure the government to repeal the latest new labour regulations, which include a reported 15,000 public sector sackings.

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John Terry Punished By Chelsea For Race Abuse

Chelsea say they have taken "further disciplinary action" against John Terry after he decided not to appeal against his four-match ban for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

The club will not reveal what discipline it is taking against its captain, saying the internal sanctions issued "will remain confidential".

"Chelsea Football Club believes John Terry has made the correct decision by not appealing against the FA judgment relating to language he used at the QPR match last October.

"Chelsea also appreciates, and supports, John's full apology for the language he used. The club firmly believes such language is not acceptable and fell below the standards expected of John as a Chelsea player.

"The board has conducted its own investigation into the matter, and considered the various issues involved. The board has taken further disciplinary action in addition to the four-match suspension and £220,000 fine imposed by the FA. In accordance with our long-standing policy, that disciplinary action will remain confidential."

Earlier, Terry apologised for the language he used, announcing he will not challenge the ban and fine of £220,000 issued by an independent Football Association regulatory commission two weeks ago.

Terry's next match will be on November 11

The 31-year-old defender was found guilty by the FA commission of racially abusing Ferdinand during a Premier League match between Chelsea and QPR on October 23 last year.

The three-man panel had ruled there was "no credible basis" for Terry's claim he had only been repeating words he thought QPR defender Ferdinand had accused him of saying, and labelled his defence "improbable, implausible and contrived".

Meanwhile, another Chelsea player Ashley Cole has been fined £90,000 after he admitted an FA charge in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, the FA has announced.

The commission also questioned why Terry's team-mate Cole had changed his statement to give more support to Terry's story, sparking a furious response from the Chelsea and England defender who described the FA as a "bunch of t***s" in a tweet sent on October 5.

Cole issued a full apology later that day and has since admitted a misconduct charge.

Cole was fined £90,000 by the FA

Earlier, Terry released a statement via his representatives Elite Management earlier, Terry said: "After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment.

"I want to take this opportunity to apologise to everyone for the language I used in the game against Queens Park Rangers last October.

"Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life."

Terry's statement continued: "As I stated in the criminal case, with the benefit of hindsight my language was clearly not an appropriate reaction to the situation for someone in my position.

"My response was below the level expected by Chelsea Football Club, and by me, and it will not happen again.

"Looking forward, I will continue to do my part in assisting the club to remove all types of discriminatory behaviour from football.

"I am extremely grateful for the consistent support of Chelsea FC, the fans and my family."

Terry has not apologised directly to Ferdinand.

The four-match ban imposed by the FA means Terry can return to action against Liverpool on November 11.

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Andrew Mitchell: Miliband Says 'He's Toast'

Labour leader Ed Miliband has mocked Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell during Prime Minister's Questions and declared "he's toast".

Prime Minister David Cameron was forced to defend the senior Tory yet again as his row with a policeman dominated the first PMQs session for more than a month.

Mr Miliband sought to use the affair to show that the Tories are a party of the privileged minority who want to live by different rules to the rest of the country.

"If a yob in a city centre on a Saturday night abused a police officer, ranting and raving, the chances are they would be arrested and placed in the back of a police car and rightly so," he said.

"The Prime Minister would be the first in the queue to say it was right. But while it's a night in the cell for the yobs, it's a night in the Carlton Club for the Chief Whip. Isn't that the clearest case there could be of total double standards?"

Mr Cameron retorted: "He wants to discuss these issues because he has nothing to say about the country."

But the Labour leader continued: "They say that I practise class war and they go round calling people plebs.

"It is good to see the Cabinet supporting him in public but what are they saying in private: 'He's completely undermined, his position is untenable.'

"In other words, he's toast. That is the reality. While everybody else loses their jobs, the Chief Whip keeps his. If you're a millionaire you get a tax cut, if you're anyone else you get a tax rise."

Labour leader Ed Miliband was on the attack

The Prime Minister admitted yet again that his Chief Whip had been wrong but insisted his apology had been accepted by police chiefs and that it was time to move on.

"This Government will get on with the big issues of helping Britain compete and succeed in the world," he told MPs.

Mr Mitchell looked uncomfortable as he watched the clash from the frontbenches. At one point, he appeared to deny having sworn at police.

He shook his head, apparently mouthing "I didn't, I didn't" as Mr Miliband said that people who swear at police should expect to be arrested.

This sparked more raised eyebrows, with Tory MP Michael Fabricant claiming the Chief Whip had reignited the row himself after previously admitting he had sworn.

Sky's deputy political editor Joey Jones says there is now an increasing push to oust the Chief Whip over the affair.

"The constant and agonising undercurrent for the Conservative Party at the moment is about the position of the Chief Whip. It is becoming a huge preoccupation for MPs and ministers," he said.

"Utterly authoritative sources tell me that senior Conservative ministers are beyond despair at the situation, which they can see just dragging on and becoming a huge distraction."

David Cameron insisted it was time to move on

Mr Mitchell faces another serious test later when the 1922 Committee meets and party members are given a chance to state their views.

He will not attend the session but it is believed that he will meet with the committee's executive afterwards where he will be made aware of the mood.

The senior Tory has been clinging to his job, which he only took on in the recent reshuffle, since it emerged he had rowed with a policeman on September 19.

He ranted at the officer at the Downing Street gates when he was told he could not cycle out of the main entrance.

Mr Mitchell has denied calling the police "plebs" during the argument but his account conflicts with the official police record.

He failed to quell the row with a lacklustre apology live on Sky News and then stayed away from the Tory conference last week to avoid being a "distraction".

The Opposition has already tabled a motion calling for Mr Mitchell to be docked £1,000 from his salary - roughly the same amount he would have been fined for swearing at an officer.

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Energy Bills: Cameron Promises New Laws

Energy firms will be forced to give customers the cheapest available tariff under new laws, David Cameron has announced.

Amid mounting concern about the soaring cost of power, the Prime Minister vowed to legislate to tackle the often-confusing array of prices.

"I can announce that we will be legislating so that energy companies have to give the lowest tariff to their customers," he told MPs during Prime Minister's Questions.

His intervention follows a string of above-inflation price hikes by major energy companies in recent days.

Ministers have previously encouraged customers to shop around to make sure they have the best deal.

They have also announced moves to require energy companies to inform their customers if they could be on cheaper tariffs.

But the forthcoming Energy Bill will go further by introducing a requirement for companies to give people the best tariff for their circumstances.

The announcement came after consumer body Which? called for an urgent independent review into the rising cost of household energy bills.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said the energy market was "broken".

A review was needed to look at rising prices and whether competition between suppliers could be made to work more effectively to help consumers, he insisted.

With the average bill up 13% since a Government energy summit a year ago, "it is no wonder consumers tell us that energy prices are one of their top financial concerns," he said.

He claimed there was little evidence that the Government was living up to its promise to make energy companies more competitive, with 75% of consumers on the most expensive tariff, and the numbers switching suppliers continuing to decline.

Mr Lloyd said people were questioning whether they were being fairly charged for gas and electricity, as companies blamed wholesale price rises and the cost of implementing environmental and social policies for bill increases.

He added: "The time for action is now. Warm words alone are not enough to keep consumers from the cold this winter."

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "Households facing rising energy bills this winter aren't going to be helped by more inquiries or investigations that could take years to complete and implement.

"We know what the problems are, we want to get on with tackling them now. We're focusing on action, not more words.

"The fact is reforms by Government and Ofgem, including electricity market reform through the forthcoming Energy Bill and Ofgem's ongoing Retail Market Review, offer the quickest way to boost consumer confidence in the energy market."

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint said: "Which? are right to say that Britain's energy market is not working in the public interest.

"For too long energy companies have been able to get away with blaming wholesale prices when bills go up, but failing to pass on savings when wholesale prices fall."

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Nike Cancels Lance Armstrong Contract

Nike has terminated its contract with former champion cyclist Lance Armstrong as he prepares to step down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity.

Last week the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) released a massive report detailing allegations of widespread performance-enhancing drug use by Armstrong.

The document included testimony from 11 former teammates. USADA has ordered for 14 years of Armstrong's career results to be erased, including his seven Tour de France titles.

In a statement the sportswear firm said: "Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him.

"Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner.

"Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer. "

The announcement came minutes after Armstrong said he is preparing to quit as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity.

He said: "I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation's chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities.

"Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship."

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, commonly known as Livestrong, was founded in 1997 and has raised roughly $500m (£309m) to support cancer patients.

The group has scheduled its 15th anniversary celebration for this weekend. Armstrong will stay on the charity's board.

The cancer survivor strongly denies doping and says he stopped fighting USADA because its hearing process was unfair.

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April Cops: 'We'll Search Until Christmas'

The search for missing April Jones could continue until Christmas and beyond, police have said.

Major search efforts to find the five-year-old schoolgirl are ongoing, and Dyfed Powys Police say the hunt may not end for months.

"We said goodbye to 150 officers this morning and they've been replaced by another 150 specialists," Superintendent Ian John said, speaking from Machynlleth.

"Numbers may fluctuate a bit on a daily basis. But whilst we still have viable lines of inquiry, we will continue to search.

"We could still be here at Christmas or the new year, we could be finished in two weeks."

He added: "The numbers involved in searching are always under review.

"Hopefully we will find April soon. We are not going anywhere until we have done our job.

"We are here for the long-term if we need to be."

He said that specialist searches from 16 separate police forces were helping in the ongoing hunt for April.

They were backed up by fire service urban area search and rescue teams, hazardous area search teams and teams from the ambulance service.

Mountain rescue teams were brought back in over the weekend as different terrain was encountered and closely searched.

Specialists capable of working in confined areas such as pot holes, caves and mine shafts are used when needed.

Hazards for which the experts need to be prepared include encountering gases such as methane which have built up.

While a myriad of tunnels and shafts are explored underground, commercial volunteers are helping with aerial searches.

Private planes full of technology otherwise unavailable to the police have been helping to spot promising areas to search.

Sonar technology and specialist equipment which can pinpoint heat signatures from the air are being used. The data it produces is closely examined and used to target specific areas to search.

April was last seen on October 1 on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where she lived.

The youngster, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was out late on her bike as a treat for getting a good school report earlier that day.

Mark Bridger, 46, from Machynlleth has been charged with April's murder and abduction.

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Gary McKinnon: May Blocks Extradition To US

Long Wait Over Extradition Ruling

Updated: 12:47pm UK, Tuesday 16 October 2012

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon has been living under the threat of extradition and prosecution in the US for more than 10 years. Here is a summary of the key events in his case:

:: 2001-2002 Between February 1 2001 and March 19 2002, the Glasgow-born computer expert allegedly hacks into 97 US government computers from his home in north London.

He is accused of leaving 300 computers at US Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey unusable immediately after the September 11 2001 terror attacks on America.

US prosecutors also allege he deleted files which shut down the US army's military district of Washington DC network of more than 2,000 computers for 24 hours.

Mr McKinnon later denies causing any damage and says he was only looking for files that would prove the existence of UFOs.

:: 2002 Between March 19 and August 8, Mr McKinnon is interviewed about his hacking by the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit at the request of the US government.

On October 31, the District Court of New Jersey in the US issues a warrant for his arrest before Paul McNulty, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, says on November 12: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

:: 2004 The US District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia issues another warrant for McKinnon's arrest on August 12 and, on October 7, the US government files a request for his extradition.

:: 2005 On March 31, a warrant for Mr McKinnon's arrest is issued by Bow Street Magistrates' Court and officers from Scotland Yard's extradition unit arrest him at his north London home on June 7.

:: 2006 Then-home secretary John Reid signs an order on July 4 for McKinnon to be extradited to the US.

:: 2007 Mr McKinnon loses an attempt to appeal against his extradition at the High Court on April 3.

:: 2008 The House of Lords, then Britain's highest court, dismisses a further appeal bid by the computer expert on July 30 and McKinnon - who is diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, on August 25 - also loses his bid to get the European Court of Human Rights to stay the extradition on August 28.

Then-home secretary Jacqui Smith rejects a request from Mr McKinnon's legal team on September 13 to stop the extradition on the grounds of his Asperger's diagnosis.

:: 2009 In January, Mr McKinnon wins permission in the High Court to seek judicial review of Ms Smith's decision and, a month later, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announces that it will not bring charges against him in Britain.

Mr McKinnon makes a bid at the High Court in July to force the Government into allowing a trial in the UK, challenging the CPS's refusal to sanction a trial in this country, but two High Court judges refuse to block his removal.

Then-Tory leader David Cameron joins the growing call for a review of extradition laws in July, saying McKinnon is "a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial".

The following month, Mr McKinnon's mother Janis Sharp criticises the then-home secretary Alan Johnson for linking her son to the September 11 terror attacks and the deaths of nearly 3,000 US citizens.

In November, the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee calls for a "comprehensive review" of the controversial treaty under which Mr McKinnon could be sent for trial while Mr Johnson, as home secretary, rejects a last-ditch appeal for him to block the extradition, saying: "I have no general discretion."

:: 2010 Mr McKinnon's mother receives 173 votes when she stands against Jack Straw, who helped agree the extradition treaty with the US, in his Blackburn constituency at the general election in May.

Later that month, the new Home Secretary Theresa May gives campaigners a glimmer of hope by agreeing his case should be adjourned while medical evidence is considered.

Now Prime Minister, Mr Cameron discusses Mr McKinnon's case with US President Barack Obama in July, saying he hopes "a way through" can be found.

It also emerges through leaked documents in November that, as prime minister, Gordon Brown unsuccessfully proposed a deal to allow McKinnon to serve any prison sentence in Britain.

:: 2011 The Government should renegotiate the UK's extradition treaty with the US to ensure British citizens get the same protection as Americans, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) says in June.

But in October, a long-awaited review of extradition arrangements by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Scott Baker finds the current treaty between the US and the UK is both balanced and fair. Many MPs and campaigners urge the Government to change the Extradition Act anyway.

:: 2012 The High Court expresses concern in January over the length of time Mr McKinnon's case in taking and attempts to speed matters up by listing it for a hearing in July.

In March, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama agree to review the operation of the controversial extradition treaty, but do not mention any individual cases during talks at the White House.

On October 16, the Home Secretary announces she is blocking Mr McKinnon's extradition on health grounds.

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Starbucks: No UK Tax Paid Since 2009

Since opening its first coffee shop in the UK in 1998, Starbucks has racked up over £3bn in sales but shelled out just £8.6m in income taxes, according to new research.

In the latest example of tax avoidance by a multinational company, Reuters revealed that for the past three years the coffee chain reported a loss at its UK business.

As a result it paid no income tax in Britain - but over the same period, its sales hit £1.2bn.

By comparison, McDonald's paid a tax bill of over £80m on £3.6bn of UK sales, and KFC incurred taxes of £36m on sales worth £1.1bn.

There is no suggestion Starbucks has done anything illegal - according to accounts filed with Companies House, Starbucks has made no profit in the UK over the past 10 years.

But transcripts of investor and analyst calls over the period reveal the company has repeatedly said it is pleased with its UK business, which it described as "profitable".

The coffee chain has defended its actions, saying it pays the appropriate level of tax.

"Starbucks is totally committed to the UK, which continues to be one of our most important markets," a spokesperson said.

"We will continue to pay our fair share of taxes to the letter of the law in the UK as we always have.

"This is in keeping with our values as a business, holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards, be it in the way we source our coffee or pay our taxes."

Its overall tax rate globally last year was much higher than average at 31%.

But on overseas income, Starbucks paid an average tax rate of 13% - one of the lowest in the consumer goods sector.

The chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, Matthew Sinclair, said companies exploit loopholes because the UK's tax system is too complicated.

He told Sky News: "There has been a succession of companies from high street names to internet giants who, thanks to the labyrinth of our tax system, appear to be paying much less in tax than many people would expect."

Starbucks, which has a market capitalisation of $40bn (£24.8bn), has a low UK tax rate because of a number of complicated corporate measures.

For example, its overseas operations have to pay a royalty fee - 6% of total sales - for the use of its "intellectual property", including its brand and business processes.

It also buys its coffee beans for its European divisions through a firm based in Lausanne in Switzerland, and the beans are shipped to Amsterdam to be roasted before they reach the UK.

As a result, Starbucks allocates some profits from its UK sales to these Dutch roasting and Swiss trading units.

Mr Sinclair called for a radical overhaul of Britain's tax system to make it simpler.

"Tinkering is not enough; we have one of the most complicated tax codes in the world which is an incredible burden to administer," he said.

"If Britain wants to remain competitive and ensure everyone pays their fair share then we need radical reform that restores legitimacy to our tax code and kick starts economic growth."

HM Revenue and Customs said it cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual businesses.

"We make sure that multinationals pay the right tax to the UK in accordance with UK tax law," it said in a statement.

"Our tax rules combat tax avoidance, and we employ specialist tax professionals to ensure that MNs play by the rules."

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Stolen Paintings Include Picasso And Freud

Several paintings including works by Picasso, Matisse and Monet have been stolen from a Dutch museum in one of the largest heists in years.

Police said a total of seven paintings were taken from the Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam including Pablo Picasso's Tete d'Arlequin (1905) and Henri Mattise's La Liseuse and Blanc et Jaune (1919).

Two pieces by Claude Monet - Waterloo Bridge, London (1901) and Charing Cross Bridge, London (1901) - were also stolen.

The thieves also made off with Paul Gauguin's Femme devant une fenêtre ouverte, dite la Fiancee (1888), Meyer de Haan's Autoportrait (circa 1889 - 91) and Woman with Eyes Closed (2002) by Lucian Freud.

The heist occurred during Monday night or Tuesday morning in Rotterdam.

The total value of the seven pieces has not been revealed but is said to be "considerable", according to Mariette Maaskant from the museum.

"There was a break-in during the night and a few paintings were taken that represent a considerable sum," Rotterdam police spokeswoman Patricia Wessels confirmed.

"A major investigation is under way and forensics are at the scene."

The museum, which opened a new exhibition a few days ago to celebrate its 20th anniversary, will be shut for the rest of the day.

Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage and appealing for witnesses who might have seen the crime, which is believed to have taken place in the early hours of the morning.

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Hillsborough Tragedy Set For New Inquest

The Attorney General has paved the way for a new inquest into the deaths of 96 football fans in the Hillsborough tragedy by applying for the verdicts of the original hearing to be quashed.

The move comes after a report into the 1989 disaster revealed a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

Dominic Grieve told the House of Commons: "I believe that these deaths, arising as they do from a common chain of events, should all be considered afresh.

"However, before reaching any final view on the scope of the application, I want to give the families affected the opportunity to make any representations in respect of the family member or members they lost.

"I will therefore be in contact with each family seeking views."

Mr Grieve said that any criminal proceedings emerging from the fallout of the Hillsborough Panel Report, which said many of the victims could have survived and scores of police statement were altered to prevent criticism of officers, could affect when the new inquest could take place.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said a "large number" of current and former officers will be investigated over their actions on the day of the tragedy and during the subsequent alleged cover-up.

Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram said the move "marks one of the biggest steps forward in the fight for justice for the families in 23 years".

"The undeniable fact is that the original inquest was unsound and this application, if successful, will mean that evidence will be able to be heard after the 3.15pm cut off imposed by the original Coroner in the 1989 inquests," he said.

"For the first time in over two decades, all the evidence can now be reviewed into the disaster and potentially a new verdict recorded on the death certificates of the deceased."

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